The mission of AZ Forensic Associates is to responsibly handle and provide an objective and accurate evaluation of each case in our custody.

With over 35 years of combined experience, our associates will help you understand the applications of forensic science, from the examination of evidentiary items through the judicial process. We are also available to criminal justice agencies and forensic laboratories to assist with the development and implementation of current forensic policy and procedure.

Our objective analysis will assist you by conducting an independent examination of evidence, preparing reports and assisting with the various aspects of your case.

"...When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either cease being mistaken, or cease being honest."Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

About AZ Forensic Associates

The AZ Forensic Associates team is comprised of leaders for their respective fields with over 35 years of combined experience in bloodstain pattern analysis, DNA, firearms and fingerprint analysis/identification. We will provide you with an objective evaluation of the physical evidence in your case. Full CVs and fee schedule are available upon request.

Click on each name below to view a brief bio for each of our associates. Contact us today for assistance with your case, and/or a referral to an appropriate expert for your needs.

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Ms. Zannin graduated Magna Cum Laude from Buffalo State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Chemistry and a second Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. She received a Master of Science degree in Forensic Science from Syracuse University. Additionally, she taught for 4 years for Syracuse University's Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute and has been named a Visiting Professor at Francisco Marroquin Law School in Guatemala. Additionally she served as the faculty advisor to Syracuse University’s Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute’s Graduate Student Organization; Forensic Science: Code Orange (FSCO). Prior to entering the Forensics field, Ms. Zannin worked and studied in the medical field for many years.

Ms. Zannin has had the privilege of studying under and working with pioneers in the field of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. Subsequently, Ms. Zannin has assisted in teaching a number of 40-hour basic bloodstain pattern analysis courses as a faculty member and lab instructor. Ms. Zannin has also had the privilege of taking these courses “on the road” to various locales domestically and internationally, including Parma, Italy where she was a member of a team that instructed the Carabinieri di Parma (a.k.a. Italian “State Police”). In addition, Ms. Zannin is only one of six worldwide that holds a certification of Competent Forensic Expert in Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation issued by the Institute on the Physical Significance of Human Bloodstain Evidence.

Ms. Zannin is a member of the following professional organizations:

Full Member – International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts (IABPA)

New York State Association of County Coroners and Medical Examiners (NYSACCME)

She is also a member of Women TIES, an organization that helps women business owners promote their companies, exchange corporate success strategies, and inspire each other to higher levels of entrepreneurial success.

Ms. Zannin’s unique background and experience has proven invaluable in assisting counsel as both a non-testifying and testifying expert, both in and out of the courtroom.

Ms. Zannin has been accepted as an expert in both federal and state courts, and has worked on criminal and civil cases in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Fingerprint Analysis

Mr. Eller is a Certified Crime Scene Investigator through the I.A.I (2010-2015) and is a member of the International Association for Identification (International and the NYS Division). He has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley and has completed 45 quarter units towards his Masters of Forensic Science degree at National University in San Diego. In addition, Jesse is an Adjunct Instructor teaching Latent Print Processing (Fall 2015) at Syracuse University.

Mr. Eller has worked as a Latent Print Examiner for the Onondaga County Center for Forensic Sciences (Accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board [ASCLD/LAB] and the New York State Commission on Forensic Science) since 2013. He has also worked as both an Identification Technician and as a Forensic Specialist for the Santa Monica Police Department from 2007-2013. Mr. Eller has worked on approximately 1,400 criminal cases where his primary duties included, but were not limited to, the following: documentation, preservation, and collection of physical evidence; visual, physical, and chemical processing of crime scene evidence in order to develop latent prints; photographing and preserving latent prints; performing digital enhancements using Photoshop; analysis and comparison of latent prints; post-mortem identifications; preparing written reports; performing technical reviews; testifying in court.

Mr. Eller’s continuing education and formal professional training of over 700 hours as of 10/15/15, including, but not limited to:

Fundamentals of Latent Print Examinations*

Advanced Palm Print Comparison Techniques*

Forensic Ridgeology*

Finding Latent Prints with Chemistry and Light*

Complex Latent Print Examinations*

Advanced ACE-V Applications*

Forensic Digital Imaging & Analysis

Analysis of Distortion in Latent Prints - sponsored by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Mr. Tate holds a B.S. Human Biology, University at Albany and a M.S. Forensic Science, University of New Haven. He has been employed as a Latent Print Examiner at the Onondaga County Center for Forensic Sciences (Accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board [ASCLD/LAB] and the New York State Commission on Forensic Science) since 2007 and has worked on hundreds of criminal cases where his primary duties include processing crime scene evidence to develop latent prints; photographing and preserving latent prints, performing digital enhancements, analysis and comparison of latent prints, performing card to card comparisons, post-mortem identifications, preparing written reports, performing technical review of his peers’ casework, and testifying in court as to those findings.

Additionally, Mr. Tate is an Adjunct Instructor, teaching Latent Prints at Syracuse University. He has also served as a mentor for students of the Forensic Science program at SU.

Mr. Tate is a member of the International Association for Identification – International and the NYS Division and is a Certified Latent Print Examiner (CLPE) - International Association for Identification and a Certified Latent Print Examiner - New York State. He has testified as an expert in Latent Prints in both Federal and State courts.

Firearms

Mr. Kurimsky started in the forensic science field in 2001 with the New York State Police at the Forensic Investigation Center. In 2003 he joined the Onondaga County Center for Forensic Sciences as a forensic scientist in the Forensic Biology/DNA Unit. In 2005 he was promoted into the Firearms Unit as a firearms examiner. To date Mr. Kurimsky has testified in approximately 200 cases in firearms.

In addition to his work at the crime lab, Mr. Kurimsky is a sworn law enforcement officer. He also is an adjunct faculty member of Syracuse University in the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute where he teaches undergraduate and graduate level forensic firearms courses. Mr. Kurimsky is also an instructor in the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Hunter Education (firearms/general hunter Ed.).